Cessna 172K accident near Kamuela, Hawaii, December 26, 1991
On December 26, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N79948, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kamuela, Hawaii (Waimea airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS ENCOUNTER WITH A WIND GUST BEYOND THE GROUND HANDLING CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN PREFLIGHT WEATHER INFORMATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kamuela, Hawaii · Waimea · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N79948 · registry record · serial 17258275
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE TOWER WAS REPORTING WINDS AT 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 42 KNOTS. THE PRECEDING HOURLY WEATHER REPORT NOTED THE WINDS AS VARIABLE IN DIRECTION AT 30 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 44 KNOTS. FAA FACILITY RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE PILOT DID NOT OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS TAXIING IN FROM LANDING TOWARD THE RAMP AREA WHEN A GUST OF WIND BEGAN TO PICK UP THE RIGHT WING. THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT, RAN OVER TO THE RIGHT WING STRUT AND WAS HOLDING THE WING DOWN. A SECOND AND STRONGER GUST OF WIND PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT OVER ONTO ITS BACK.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 900 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OOG Maui HI at 7:00 pm
- Destination: MUE Kamuela HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 20 knots, gusting 42
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from MUE, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.